Short hops and hard knocks with Red Sox beat writer Ian Browne.

Lowell finishes career with a wall single

Mike Lowell finished his career the way a lot of players would like to — with a single high off Fenway Park’s Green Monster. It was only a few feet from being a home run.

The hit came in the bottom of the fifth inning in Saturday’s game against the Yankees. Lowell was removed for pinch-runner Lars Anderson, and got another big ovation from the Fenway faithful. It was the perfect way to end his career, said Lowell. The only thing better would have been a home run.

Lowell won’t play tonight’s nightcap or on Sunday. Instead, he will soak in the final moments of his baseball career.

Before the game, Lowell was honored in a pre-came ceremony called “Thanks, MIke Day”.

Lowell’s worlds collided, as his parents were on hand, as was his wife, his two children and teammates past and present.

The Florida Marlins sent over a cooler full of Stone Crabs. The Red Sox gave Lowell a check to his foundation for $100,000, not to mention his own third-base bag which was extracted from the Fenway playing surface during the ceremony, and also a Fenway Park seat with the Number 25 on it.

The Red Sox were represented by principal owner John W. Henry, chairman Tom Werner, president/CEO Larry Lucchino, manager Terry Francona and right-hander Josh Beckett. Lowell’s former teammates in attendance were catcher Mike Redmond and Alex Cora, two of his best friends in or out of baseball.

Lowell finished with a nice speech.

“First of all, I’d like to thank the Red Sox organization for this great ceremony and a very generous check, I really appreciate it, that’s really unbelievable,” Lowell said. “I’d also like to thank my family, friends, teammates, ex-teammates, my minor league coaches, believe it or not over there [in the Yankees dugout] and hopefully the silver place winners today for the game. They’ve come a long way, a lot of people and you guys have meant so much to me over my career. I really don’t know where to go from there. I just want to say thank you for that.

“You know, I’m kind of at a loss for words to kind of explain the emotions I’ve felt over the last five years with respect to the support and the positive responses I’ve gotten from Red Sox fans. I think it’s your passion and your knowledge for baseball that I’ll truly miss, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget. So I just want to thank God for allowing me the privilege and the opportunity to wear this jersey, to play in this ballpark, to repsresent the city of boston and to share so many memories with all of you. Thanks you very much.”

After getting a nice, loud ovation in his first at-bat, Lowell promptly lived up to the moment, cracking a two-run double to right against Andy Pettitte.

Lowell will be missed by the fans, his teammates and definitely the media. He was a pleasure to deal with in his five years here.

27 Comments

We now live in SC and thanks to FOX was not able to see the Red Sox/NY game as they broadcast the Braves game. Bad timing and MLB didn’t even have it. We love Mike and wish him all the luck. Will still wear my “25” jersey.

Thanks to MBL and Fox Sports, and the Red Sox for not planning it better, a lot of fans missed Mike’s ceremony, and all the great moments. Bad move by the Red Sox organization for not letting NESN broadcast this special moment, or find a way to do so. MIKE, YOU ARE THE BEST!! THERE’S NO PLAYER LIKE YOU; THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

Thanks to MBL and Fox Sports, and the Red Sox for not planning it better, a lot of fans missed Mike’s ceremony, and all the great moments. Bad move by the Red Sox organization for not letting NESN broadcast this special moment, or find a way to do so. MIKE, YOU ARE THE BEST!! THERE’S NO PLAYER LIKE YOU; THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

It has been a pleasure to watch Mike Lowell on the field and read about what a humanitarian he is off the field. It isn’t a surprise, since he is a gentleman always. Throughout the past year he has carried himself in a respectful way even when it was very difficult here in Boston. The fans respect and love him. He will be missed. I am hopeful that he will stay involved in Baseball in some fashion, and that he will enjoy his family in a closer proximity. Thanks for the memories.

Mike is one of the classiest Red Sox players of all time. Thank you for a great career, especially your MVP performance in the 2007 World Series. Despite very difficult circumstances during this now past year, you continued to conduct yourself in a manner we should all aspire to. A fantastic fielder in your prime, always a clutch hitter and a treasured friend to your teammates and, the media! I wish you and your family the best! We’ll miss you, Mike, but we’ll never forget you!

Thanks for everything Mike, you are one of the finest players ever to wear a Red Sox uniform. You have been an inspiration to many, so many kids have looked up to you because you represent all that is good in baseball, a true class act, a gentleman, and am extremely valuable player.We will miss you, and are thankful for the countless hours of enjoyment we have enjoyed watching you play.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. I have a home in Brooklyn and have been a Yankee fan all my life.
I also have a home in Cape Cod for the past 25 years. The
rivalry betweeni the Yanks and Red Sox is well known.
When George Steinbrenner died, the ownership of the Red Sox made a class statement especially about putting Mr.
Steinbrenner in the Hall of Fame.
That was as nice as it gets. With all the charitable things
the Red Sox have done over the years,you made me a Red Sox fan as well. I tell my friends in Cape Cod when i’m in
Cape Cod, I am a Red Sox fan. In NY, a Yankee fan.
I love both teams and never speak badly of the Red Sox.
Thank you and the management of the Red Sox for your comment about Mr. Steinbrenner,
I hope Terry Francona wins Manager of the Year for the
way he managed the Red Sox.
I also would vote tomorrow if possible to put your owner and management into the Hall of Fame. God Bless all of you
always.

What more can we say about Mike Lowell? He was one of my favorite players to watch in a Red Sox uniform. Lowell is a gamer! Remember it was Lowell that lead the Red Sox in RBI’s back in 2007 not Ramirez or Ortiz. He capped off his great 2007 season when he won the MVP of the World Series. Thank heaven Theo left Fenway in a gorilla suit because if he didn’t, Lowell would have never ended up in Boston. Thank you Bill LaJoie and others for pulling off that trade.

We all know it was Lowell’s last game yesterday. Was it Dice-K’s in a Red Sox uniform???? Here’s hoping!!

The final game is today, it seemed like 20 minutes ago it was Sabathia and Beckett on Easter night. Where did the season go???

Thanks Ian for all the great information you provide! I enjoy all of it.

The irony is if it weren’t for Youk’s injury, Mike would likely be released or DFA’ed. Mike is a gamer and a classy guy. Glad he retired in the Rex Sox uniform.
Can anyone explain why so many errors commited this year. It must be the team record. Francona will get a lot of votes for the Manager of the Year. Uncle Tito kept the team in contention until the last week of the season. It’s the FO and injuries that undid the Red Sox.
If there is an award for the bad GM of the Year, Theo Epstein will finish in the money.

Mike Lowell, never one to mince words, essentially said that he shuts up and plays the game. Not poetic but that is exactly what fans expect of our players. We don’t want pontificating loudmouths spouting off after a game and we don’t want a bunch of excuses from players either. We just want them to do their jobs. Mike did his job better than anyone, and at his peak, he certainly deserved the MVP award.
I also agree that, were it not for Youk, Mike certainly would have been dumped in a cold and calculating manner by Theo. Instead, Mike got to go out in style but I still don’t understand why he wasn’t allowed to play the last two games. Certainly they don’t count.
Theo has been decaying this team year by year and the Sox record reflects it. Who will be the next Julio Lugo and Dice-K that Theo eyes for ‘enhancing the team.” If John Henry can’t see how incompetent Theo Epstein is, then he is also entirely to blame for the Sox decay.
Theo’s only hope is to pull from the farm. Theo doesn’t seem to screw that up…except when gets rid of good players to get junk as in the case of Eric Gagne.

Finally, I wish everyone a great winter and here is my wish for a better spring that this year. It will certainly be interesting in Hot Stove and I hope Theo doesn’t get burned again with junk. Please avoid the Mike Cameron’s and stick with players that can perform such as A-Gonz.
Have a great winter

I just watched the pre-game ceremony for Mike Lowell for the first time myself. The game was blacked out in our area, and Fox carried the Braves game. Thank you for putting the clip of the entire ceremony on the site!
Mike is one of my favorite players to ever put on the Red Sox uniform, as anyone who has posted here with us knows by now. I will sorely miss him. Andy, you are right, it is sad that it took Youk’s getting injured to keep him on the team. I sure am glad he was still with us, though, and it paid off in some timely hits, and solid play at 1B.
Brian, I think Theo was the one in the gorilla suit again. Theo being on the field might have rained on the parade a bit.
Thank you, Mike! Enjoy your retirement! GO SOX!

I know it’s no use engaging in self pity. Injuries notwithstanding, the Sox still had the shot for the postseason then. The Yanks and the Rays aren’t as formidable as advertised. I just don’t understand what’s the point of getting rid of MDC and Ram Ram without replacing them with equal or better pitchers. If the Sox had a bettter bp. who knows? Go Sox 2011.

Good luck and Godspeed to you Mike Lowell. You made the Sox a lot better team than they were before you arrived. The only good thing about the season ending today……I don’t have to watch Papelbon pitch anymore this year. Oh….and i did not lose a 12-pack of Snapple thanks to today’s win!!!!! Go Sox. Let’s have a good off-season this time!

The Sox’s B team knocked the Yankees out of the first place regardless how the Rays do. Maybe the Yanks are better off playing the Twins in the first round than the pesky Rangers. But again the Yanks won’t have the HFA throughout the playoffs and the WS if they go that far. Go Sox 2011.

Congrats on a great career Mike. Hard to believe it’s time to hang them up already. Was great to watch you play for many years growing up in South Florida. Hope the Marlins next season can do something in your honor. After Conine you’re Mr. Marlin in my book.

The Sox should let Mike play 1B for the last inning especially the Sox had a big lead. It would be nice for the fans to say farewell to Mike for the last time.
When the Yanks missed the playoffs, they came back and won the WS. Let see what our wunderkind Theo can do. Go Sox 2011.

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